Klarinet Archive - Posting 000011.txt from 2004/01

From: Audrey Travis <vsofan@-----.ca>
Subj: Re: [kl] teaching beginner essentials
Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2004 12:23:38 -0500

First of all, the person who inquired *asked* for a top 3 list. I gave one.
Period. Don't put words in my mouth, please. Referring to your first
paragraph - I didn't say "teach emboucure in lesson 1, teach tongueing in
lesson 2, then in lesson 3 teach breathing"! Obviously the basics are taught
in an ongoing process and re-examinerd and reinforced at each lesson *along
with many other skills*. I am neither flatheaded nor stupid! And as to
practicing daily for 20 minutes, please note I said my students *aim for* that
time. Some go way beyond that, some nail it on the head and some don't get
anywhere near that. But since my experience is with homogenious band classes
with no time for sectionals or private lessons, I see part of my job as
encouraging all the kids to keep up with everyone else - essential to actually
being able to play together. As for holding the instrument correctly - there
will always be students who hold the instrument in a not ideal way and yes, I
agree that there are some great clarinetists who don't follow the standard
practice and who are yet successful.

The real question (maybe one of many) is how realistic is it to expect a
teacher to teach a homogenious band class only once a week and expect complete
success with every child? With up to 10 or more different instruments being
taught, plus an unknown number of students in that class, and an unkown lesson
length, that's a tall order. I do that in two 40 minute lessons a week for
each band and it's tough to keep it all together. My answer is that you must
teach basic skills, constantly reinforce them, find time to address individual
problems and insist kids practice to keep up and/or go beyond.

I stand by both my lists and add Dee's that a teacher show kids (and remind
constantly) how to safely put the instrument together and take it apart.

Happy New Year,

Audrey

Kenneth Wolman wrote:

> At 10:55 PM 12/31/2003, you wrote:
> >I'd say:
> >1) correct embouchure
> >2) correct tongueing
> >3) correct breathing and filling the clarinet with lots of air
>
> Hmmm. By this list I suppose I'm getting the right kind of pedagogy from
> the kid at Rutgers who's been teaching me. Embouchure and gut-breathing
> are prime thus far, the next lesson is going to be my lesson in total
> frustration, an hour of pure tonguing practice: in the words of (I think it
> was) Carol Burnett, I'd rather marry a moose.
>
> He already showed me how to hold the instrument, thereby disabusing me of
> the notion that as a beginner I can hold the clarinet at a 75 degree angle
> from my body like I was Benny Goodman...or Giora Feidman. The photo I've
> seen of the aged but still stupendous Anthony Gigliotti holding the
> instrument close to his body was taught to me as correct. Did someone say
> something about learning the rules before you break them?
>
> I came there MOSTLY knowing how to read music. I can't sight-read worth a
> damn. I don't know if that an be taught. I'm sure I will get answers:-).
>
> Twenty minutes a day for practice? There are days here and there where,
> owing to outside world commitments, I can't pick up the instrument. My
> practice sessions therefore tend to go for quite awhile...stop in between
> until I can feel my mouth again...then go back to it.
>

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org